Family members of Tribute Flight participants watch their loved ones take flight.

About the Conestoga Flight

"The Way West by A. B. Guthrie Jr. describes the Conestoga wagons as 'they did not work very well, they always broke down, people did not really get pass Pennsylvania in them anyway.' But the Conestoga embodies the spirit of the pioneers as they moved out west. They took what they had, they build it, they got as far as they could and moved on.

"This flight is named in honor of Conestoga 1, the world’s first privately funded mission to space--launched September 9, 1982 by Space Services Inc. of America-- from which Celestis traces its corporate history. It is appropriate for your loved ones to be on the Conestoga Flight, because they embody the spirit of exploration and adventure."

Charles M. Chafer, Celestis Founder and CEO speaking at the memorial service

What Our Families Are Saying

"He believed in energy, he believed in physics and he believed in space. I think this is was the perfect think to send him of on his final journey up into space, back with the energy from which thank everybody."

John Coshway, son of John Coshway, Sr.

Conestoga FlightMemorial Service
, October 22, 2014

"Our mom and father, went to many reunions of the Generation Born in Space and we decided that this will be a very fitting sendoff to our Mom. It was an absolutely wonderful."

Nicky Mott , daughter of Edyth Lee

Conestoga FlightLaunch Event
, October 23, 2014

"One of the few things that does make sense and what keeps me going in the wake of such tragedy is to give my larger than life son C.J. the opportunity to see the world he never saw and to forever rest in locations far beyond his wildest imagination has allowed me to keep his memory alive….I can’t think of anything more perfect for my loving sun then to hitch a ride on a rocket. Mr. Chafer you could not have given my son and my family a more perfect gift."

Family of C.J. Twomey

Conestoga FlightMemorial Service
, October 22, 2014

"Thank you so much for helping us fulfill my husband Michael's dream of spaceflight! I couldn't think of a more fitting send-off!"

Michele Bonner

Conestoga FlightLaunch Event
, October 22, 2014

"It is a good way to remembering and celebrating his life…It is good to be part of something that is bigger than I am and its going on is past me. It’s the start of something that will go on and help human kind. Thank you Celestis for an amazing experience, it’s been fantastic."

John Ottaway, Friend of Jamie Kyle

Conestoga FlightLaunch Event
, October 22, 2014

"This is the perfect place to let him rest. That’s why we are here today…We miss him everyday and we will always look up at the stars, we had one named for him. And it is just perfect that he gets to go to the stars."

Toby's Mother

Conestoga FlightMemorial Service
, October 22, 2014

"This is your chance to say good bye. Your loved ones are on board, they will be the first ones to reach space because they are on top of the capsule, they are there. Take a few moments."

Conestoga Flight Mission Logo

The Conestoga Flight - The Conestoga Flight logo displays a Conestoga wagon, the covered wagon that opened the American West to pioneers and settlers. The wagon also served as the inspiration for the Conestoga 1 space mission – the world’s first privately funded launch into space. Celestis Co-Founder and CEO Charles M. Chafer played a crucial role in the Conestoga 1 mission and personally approved the design of the mission logo to mirror and update the imagery used in 1982 for the first Conestoga flight. The logo displays 13 stars signifying that this was the 13th Celestis Memorial Spaceflight mission and honors UP Aerospace for their 9th flight of the SpaceLoft XL rocket.

The Conestoga Flight logo is from well-known designer and illustrator Eric Gignac. Eric’s portfolio also includes co-design of NASA Space Shuttle mission patches for the STS 128 and 133 missions.